Autistic Miramar boy's father talks about restaurant rage attack

Richard Bennett says man punched him at Boynton Beach Olive Garden after complaining that his son was too loud

August 10, 2010|By Wayne Roustan, Sun Sentinel

Richard Bennett is used to the odd looks his family gets when his kids get loud, but he's never been attacked.

Yet on Saturday afternoon, the Miramar resident, 43, said he "was grabbed by the shirt, pushed backward, wrestled down and hit" by Paul Blankfield, 36, at the Olive Garden restaurant on Congress Avenue in Boynton Beach.

By the time the altercation was over, Blankfield, of Weston, was in handcuffs and on his way to the Palm Beach County Jail.

Blankfield, Bennett said on Monday, was seated at a nearby table, andcomplained about Bennett's autistic son, Samuel, saying the 4-year-old was talking loudly.

Blankfield told police that it was Bennett who said "F--- you!" But witness Christine Lucenti said it was Blankfield who hurled the expletive.

Then, " [Blankfield] jumped up, pushed by my son and charged at me." Bennett said. "He was on me in a flash."

Bennett had taken his family out for a joint birthday celebration for his wife, Sonia, and Samuel, who will turn 5 on Wednesday.

Bennett's other son, 3-year-old Nicholas, and his sister-in-law and her husband were also at the table for more than an hour and were about to pay the bill when, they say, Blankfield walked in with a man and a woman.

They were only at the next table for "10 to 15 minutes" before Blankfield erupted, according to Bennett.

Restaurant staff and fellow customers tried to break up the fight.

"[Staff] catered to him and turned their backs on me," Bennett said. "They acted as if I was the one who assaulted him. Totally inappropriate."

Bennett said he went outside and called 911. When police arrived, he said several customers, staff and Blankfield were outside too.

"He wasn't apologetic," Bennett said of Blankfield.

"One officer explained he had a family member who is autistic and that [Blankfield's behavior] was uncalled for," Bennett said.

He admits Samuel screamed once or twice during the meal and that he sometimes doesn't realize how loudly he speaks, but he's a "typical 4-year-old" who's well-behaved, and none of the other restaurant customers complained.

Raising an autistic child is a challenge, Bennett said, and most people mistake behavior as that of a "bratty kid."

He wishes people were more understanding and tolerant. Most are,he said,once they are told the child is autistic.

Bennett said Samuel was confused by the incident and hasn't "processed it" yet, but Nicholas was crying, asking, "Why did the man hit Daddy?"

His wife, Sonia, was also shaken up, Bennett said.

On the way to the Boynton Beach Police Department, the arrest report quotes Blankfield as saying, "You know what … good for him … he gets what he deserved … an autistic kid."

Blankfield was booked at the Palm Beach County Jail for simple battery and was released late Saturday.

Neither Blankfield nor Lucenti could be reached for comment after two phone calls to each.

Olive Garden parent company Darden Restaurants spokesman Mark Jaransky, in Orlando, said the Bennetts were given gift cards and were not charged for their meal.

Patrons at five surrounding tables, who witnessed the confrontation, also had their meals paid for by the restaurant, Jaransky said.

"We believe we treated Mr. Bennett with care and compassion," he said.

But Bennett said he doesn't plan to eat at Olive Garden any time soon.